Harrogate Town left 'flummoxed' by penalty decision in defeat at Tranmere Rovers

HARROGATE Town manager Simon Weaver says his players were "flummoxed" in the dressing room at half time after a contentious penalty awarded to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night.
COSTLY: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver disagreed with the decision to award Tranmere Rovers a penalty on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony Johnson.COSTLY: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver disagreed with the decision to award Tranmere Rovers a penalty on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony Johnson.
COSTLY: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver disagreed with the decision to award Tranmere Rovers a penalty on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony Johnson.

The Sulphurites lost 3-2 in Merseyside as their winless run stretched to four games but the contest was not without controversy.

Harrogate deservedly led 1-0 through Rangers loanee Josh McPake but were pegged back when Warren Burrell was judged to have fouled Manny Monthé inside the penalty area.

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The visiting players were incensed, their adamant protests that no infringement had taken place leading to a yellow card for Connor Hall.

James Vaughan made no mistake with the spot-kick to level proceedings as Rovers scored two goals in three minutes early in the second half to take the game away from Harrogate.

"From where I was, it was a very crowded box but all the players were flummoxed at half time," said Weaver.

"They held their hands up and said there was no infringement whatsoever. It is a game-changer and the referees have to make sure they are on the spot and in the right position to make a decision.

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"There are not many times, because we have got such honest players, there has been such uproar at a decision.

DISMISSED: Connor Hall became the third player in four games to be sent off for Harrogate Town following his red card at Tranmere. Picture: Tony Johnson.DISMISSED: Connor Hall became the third player in four games to be sent off for Harrogate Town following his red card at Tranmere. Picture: Tony Johnson.
DISMISSED: Connor Hall became the third player in four games to be sent off for Harrogate Town following his red card at Tranmere. Picture: Tony Johnson.

"That takes us back onto level terms which is disappointing because we were in the ascendancy at the time."

The Harrogate manager had no complaints with a red card for Hall as he was shown a second yellow card for a poorly-timed challenge on Kaiyne Woolery with 20 minutes remaining.

Woolery had scored from a corner to put the hosts ahead early in the second half before Vaughan pounced to double the lead moments later.

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The dismissal was the third sending off in four games for Town and Weaver wants better discipline from his players going forward.

"From where I saw it, it looked a foul. I had a decent view on it," he added.

"When you come from behind and are stretching for a ball while on a yellow card, you are in danger of getting a second yellow in this day and age.

"It is really not what the group need. I put it less down to luck and about something we could have controlled and done better.

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"On all three occasions it has been bitterly disappointing. As a group, we are mature enough now not to be doing things like that.

"We have to be better disciplined, simple as that."

Harrogate pulled a goal back two minutes after being reduced to 10 men through January signing Josh March.

It meant that both of the Sulphurites' goals came from new arrivals in this transfer window, something which was pleasing for Weaver.

He added: "I think all the new players have come in and already made a positive impact on the team.

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"It was great to see two of them score two very well taken goals which will be a great boost for their confidence levels.

"It is a shame we didn't keep the back door shut because it is mainly set plays that have cost us and took the game away from us, shortly after half time."

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